EVENT 2022 | 2023 | 2024

“COLORADO SPRINGS’ COOLEST BIKEPACKING OVERNIGHTER.”

Year three! Bring yourself, a bike and whatever gear– a hammock, tent, a Jimmy Johns sando (props to our ingenious/low-effort attendees)– and join the Good Grief gang for a casual overnighter that gets you out of the city, into the mountains to a top-secret camp spot…and back in time for work on Thursday morning.

With one easy meetup location and five monthly dates, you can choose your own adventure(s) for a ride that’s fun enough to break up the mid-week blahs, without leaving you with jelly legs for work the next day (it’s downhill the whole way home). Whether you glamp or rough it, cook out or open a can of beans, the way to approach it is in the name: DON’T OVERTHINK IT.

MAY 29
JUNe 12
JULY 17
AUG 14
SEPT 4

Meet at:
5pm @ Red Rocks Open Space Parking Lot on S.31st Street | MAP
(~10 miles to camp, 1700 ft climb)

A note on bikes:
You’ll need an off-road capable bike for this ride. Gold Camp Road turns into gravel and squishy/rocky kitty litter in a few places, so skinny-tire bikes aren’t suitable.

And on stragglers:
We’ll wait at the meeting point, but no longer than 15 minutes. We want to get up to camp with time to enjoy a beautiful sunset.

SO HOW DOES THIS THING WORK?

Climbing Red Rocks and Gold Camp Road on a bike with your overnight gear (even if it’s just a fanny pack full o’ string cheese) might seem intimidating, but it’s a great intro to bikepacking in the Rockies. Bike camping is not about personal bests or being the fastest up, but about slowing down and lookin’ around– at least with us it is.

Gold Camp Road is pretty even and steady climbing, with no extreme inclines or anything gnarly. But, it does transition from paved road to gravel…to loose sandy spots and a bit of rock-littered squish in places. This overnighter gives you the full bikecamp experience– you’ll hike-a-bike (push) your rig up a tight, root-gnarled path at one point, then you’ll wade with it through a stream, and wobble through rim-deep sandy stuff just after. BUT! We’ll all settle into our comfy paces, keep pedaling, and marvel at the extraordinary machine that is our bodies powering bicycles up a still-growing geological wonder. Bikepacking in the Rockies, guys!

You’ll need a full water bottle(s), something for dinner, then breakfast and/or coffee for the next morning (if that’s your thing), bike lights, a helmet, clothing layers (temps can dip in the night at elevation) and something to sleep in or on. Details are for overthinkers.

A LITTLE MORE INFO:

There’s no fire ban at the moment so we’ll have a crackling fire going for hot dogs (or hot pockets) if you want to cook out.
There’s a little stream we cross before reaching the campsite, so filter and fill up your water bottles there – no need to bring 15 full (heavy) water bottles.
Pets are welcome! (Unless they’re aggressive or not well-trained, then it might not be the trip for them.) Eddie Merckx (the dog, not the Belgian legend) will be on most/all dates, so he’d love the company.
Leave Thursday morning at any time. Want to lay in and enjoy a slow morning with pour-over coffee? Do it! Need to jam down the mountain to get to work? That’s cool too.
Finally, don’t stress about how fast you ride or if you’ll be able to keep up. This group is for riders of all abilities to get out and enjoy the nature that’s 5 minutes from our lucky asses for a fun mid-week adventure. If you need to stop and catch your breath or take a my-butt-hurts break, do it. We’re not trying to Strava flex out here– we’re here for the ride, the camaraderie…and those crispy-skinned campfire hot dogs.

Still have questions? Shoot us an email here, or a DM here.